When it comes to office printers, the driver can make or break the user experience. With Kyocera printers, particularly when using an updated driver, the print driver stands out as a genuinely good feature. It’s true, as many have noted, an up-to-date driver is key. Attempting to use an older driver on a newer system is naturally going to cause hiccups. One significant advantage of the Kyocera driver on a Windows setup is the inclusion of three print languages: PCL5, PCL6, and KPDL. These offer flexibility, allowing users to select on the fly or set a default language based on their printing needs. For a smooth installation, it’s highly recommended to use the setup utility provided with the Kyocera machine, as it includes a font file that is crucial for avoiding font printing issues down the line.
However, shifting focus to the copier side, those frequently dealing with mixed-size originals like Legal and Ledger documents might encounter limitations. If the originals lack a common edge, the output will default to the largest paper size. While combinations like letter and legal, or letter and ledger, work as expected, true mixed-size batch copying can be problematic.
In the realm of color capabilities, Kyocera color copiers offer an interesting feature: the ability to mimic the color output of other brands like Sharp, Konicaminolta, HP, Canon, and even Xerox, accessible via the service mode. This color mimic setting applies to both copying and printing. For printing, it can be set as a default, or users can switch between the standard Kyocera color and a custom color profile as needed, though only one custom mimic setting can be active at a time.
Overall, Kyocera machines have generally performed reliably. It’s worth noting that the “FS” series models can exhibit slower spooling speeds. Anecdotally, there have been instances where customers, previously using Konicaminolta, found Kyocera’s color reproduction not quite to their satisfaction. In these specific cases, reverting to Konicaminolta resolved their color accuracy concerns.
Kyocera also provides a comprehensive suite of software solutions, which can significantly streamline document scanning and storage processes, adding further value to their offerings.
This review highlights that for general office printing, especially regarding driver functionality and features, Kyocera printers are a good choice. However, businesses with specific needs like advanced mixed-size copying or highly color-sensitive applications might need to carefully evaluate if Kyocera fully meets their requirements.
